Blue Raiders drop pair on opening day

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Middle Tennessee men's tennis team opened play at the HEB Tournament of Champions on Friday by playing two close matches against nationally ranked opponents.

The Blue Raiders opened play against tournament host No. 54 Texas A&M Corpus Christi falling 4-2. Middle Tennessee began the match by taking the doubles point. Sophomore Shaun Waters and freshman Ben Davis defeated Laurent Montoisy and Gergo Weidinger 8-6 at No. 1. Then junior Matthew Langley and freshman Elliot Barnwell won their No. 2 doubles match 8-6 over Nathan Robinson and Robert Raguz.

Langley posted the only singles win for the Blue Raiders defeating Raguz in a three-set battle after losing the first set to open the match, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In the afternoon, Middle Tennessee played No. 46 New Mexico in the first round of the loser's bracket. The team lost the doubles point but had strong performances from Davis, freshman Dimitri Pippos and senior Kyle Wishing.

Davis defeated Phil Anderson 6-3, 7-6 at No. 3 singles and Wishing pulled out a close straight set win over Mads Hegelund 7-6, 7-6. Pippos won the first set 6-4 over Conor Berg but then lost the second 6-2 as Berg forced a third set. Pippos battled and pulled out the match win with a 7-5 score in the third set.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action at the HEB Tournament of Champions on Saturday. Results will be posted on goblueradiers.com when they become available.

Complete Results
#54 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, Middle Tennessee 2
Singles
1. Laurent Montoisy (AMCC) def. Shaun Waters (MT) 6-1, 6-3
2. James Langford (AMCC) def. Ben Davis (MT) 6-1, 7-5
3. Matthew Langley (MT) def. Robert Raguz (AMCC) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Aurelien Tave (AMCC) def. Joseph Cohen (MT) 6-2, 6-3
5. Matt Westmoreland (AMCC) def. Elliott Barnwell (MT) 6-3, 6-3
6. Gergo Weidinger (AMCC) vs. Dimitri Pippos (MT) 3-6, 6-4, unfinished

Doubles
1. Ben Davis/Shaun Waters (MT) def. Laurent Montoisy/Gergo Weidinger (AMCC) 8-6
2. Elliott Barnwell/Matthew Langley (MT) def. Nathan Robinson/Robert Raguz (AMCC) 8-6
3. James Langford/Aurelien Tave (AMCC) def. Dimitri Pippos/Kyle Wishing (MT) 8-5

#46 New Mexico 4, Middle Tennessee 3
Singles
1. Jadon Phillips (NM) def. Shaun Waters (MT) 5-7, 7-5, 6-1
2. Ben Dunbar (NM) def. Matthew Langley (MT) 6-2, 6-1
3. Ben Davis (MT) def. Phil Anderson (NM) 6-3, 7-6
4. Carl Ho (NM) def. Elliott Barnwell (MT) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Dimitri Pippos (MT) def. Conor Berg (NM) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
6. Kyle Wishing (MT) def. Mads Hegelund (NM) 7-6, 7-6

Doubles
1. Conor Berg/Ben Dunbar (NM) vs. Shaun Waters/Ben Davis (MT) unfinished
2. Jadon Phillips/Phil Anderson (NM) def. Matthew Langley/Elliott Barnwell (MT) 8-1
3. Carl Ho/Matthew Neeld (NM) def. Dimitri Pippos/Kyle Wishing (MT) 8-5

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